The Greek government has been ordered to reopen state broadcaster ERT a week
after it was shut down as part of austerity measures.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras put 2,700 people out of work when he turned off the live television feed last Tuesday in a bid to satisfy the debt-stricken country’s international lenders.

However, a court ruled that ERT must be switched back on until a restructured public broadcaster is set up.

“I’ve been here seven nights and this is the first time I’ve seen people smile,” said Eleni Hrona, an ERT reporter, at the HQ.

The court’s decision is seen as a win-win for the government, as it allows Mr Samaras to create a leaner and cheaper public broadcaster while also placating his two coalition partners that had demanded ERT be reopened.

Workers at ERT have continued broadcasting over the internet as Mr Samaras refused to turn the “sinful” broadcaster back on, vowing to fight to modernise a country he says had become a “Jurassic Park” of inefficiency and corruption.